IEC Disinformation Code, 2026 local elections (Notice 4138)
Label AI-generated audio, images, video and text as "synthetic content" before distribution.
In short
- Where: South Africa
- Status: In force since 4 September 2026
- Who: Parties and candidates, 2026 local elections (until results declared)
- Covers: Political ads and campaigns only
- Kennmarq.com: images: waits for labels in a law's own words and language (expected February 2027); video: waits for labels in a law's own words and language (expected February 2027); audio: waits for spoken notices in audio (expected December 2026); text: waits for text (expected March 2027).
Updated 4 November 2026; source checked 4 November 2026. Sources are government sites. This page explains what Kennmarq.com does; it isn't legal advice.
What it asks of each kind of file
| File | What it asks | Kennmarq.com today |
|---|---|---|
| Images | a visible label reading “synthetic content” | Waits for labels in a law's own words and language (expected February 2027) |
| Video | a visible label reading “synthetic content” | Waits for labels in a law's own words and language (expected February 2027) |
| Audio | a notice people can hear reading “synthetic content” | Waits for spoken notices in audio (expected December 2026) |
| Text | a visible label reading “synthetic content” | Waits for text (expected March 2027) |
In the API
A rule for political ads and campaigns only: markets=za applies South Africa's general rules in force or passed, not this one (what a call for South Africa needs). The table above shows what our marks add of what it asks.
Official text
- Electoral Commission, Government Gazette No. 55341, Notice 4138 of 2026 (PDF)
- South African Government, Electoral Commission introduces new Disinformation Code